Eden at 19:47, 8 March 2010

2010-03-08T19:47:32Z

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=The Issue=
This document aims to provide detailed instructions to fixing a display issue under XGL & AIGLX. Under certain ATI drivers (both OpenSource radeon and ATI binaries) an issue may arise whereby black borders or black boxes will appear around windows that are unfocused and or dialogs and icons. Adding the option
Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
to the graphics device section of the xorg.conf file fixes the problem in many cases. Note this does '''not''' fix the other issue of shadows being displayed as black borders which appears at this time to be a MESA rendering issue.

==Warning==
WARNING: Improperly editing you xorg.conf file may result in a temporary inability to use your x-server. Please be careful while making changes and make a backup of it in case this change fails.

==The Detailed Solution==
'''The following is a step by step proceedure.'''

'''''Step 1: Open a console'''''
In the KDE desktop environment you would click on the KDE button and click Run Command...
and then type '''konsole'''
In the Gnome desktop environment you would click the Gnome "foot" button and click Run..
and then type '''gnome-console'''

'''''Step 2: Become root so you can edit the file'''''
name@localhost ~ $ '''su root'''
Password:'''your_root_password_goes_here'''

'''''Step 3: Backup the file you will edit. (Just in case)'''''
# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.zbackup

'''''Step 4: Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf'''''
# nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

'''The nano text editor will start and the xorg.conf file openned will look similar to this.'''

GNU nano 1.3.12 File: /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Files"
#FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/local/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/TTF/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/corefonts"
EndSection
# **********************************************************************
# Module section -- this is an optional section which is used to specify
^G Get Help ^O WriteOut ^R Read File ^Y Prev Page ^K Cut Text ^C Cur Pos
^X Exit ^J Justify ^W Where Is ^V Next Page ^U UnCut Text^T To Spell

Notice where it says '''Section "Files"''' above in the next step you will be looking for another section.

'''''Step 5: Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf'''''
'''''Using your arrow or page keys get down to where it says'''''
# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************
# Any number of graphics device sections may be present
Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility 7500 (M7 LW)"
Driver "radeon"

Hint: You can press the '''CTRL''' and '''Y''' keys together to move up and '''CTRL''' and '''V''' keys to move down.<br>
Your Identifier will likely be different. Don't worry.<br> The | Driver "radeon" | section is the opensource xdriver.

'''''Step 6: Create a new line and add an Option'''''
Move down to the line below it and press '''Enter''' on your keyboard to create a new line.
Type the following
Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"

The new section would now look somthing like this...
# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************
# Any number of graphics device sections may be present
Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility 7500 (M7 LW)"
Driver "radeon"
Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
Be sure the new line you typed is correct.

'''''Step 7: Save Your Changes'''''
Press the '''CTRL''' and '''X''' keys together.
The following will appear
'''Save modified buffer (ANSWERING "No" WILL DESTROY CHANGES) ?'''
Press the '''Y''' key to save the file
The following will appear
'''File Name to Write: /etc/X11/xorg.conf'''
Press the '''Enter''' key to save this file

Congratulations you have just used nano to edit a file and hopefully fix your black border / black boxes issue. But there is a catch. Your xserver is likely still running so it doesn't know about your new changes.

'''''Step 8: Reload Your Session'''''
You could logout and then restart the computer.
Others will log out of KDE/Gnome etc. and press the
'''Ctrl Alt Backspace''' keys together
once at the same time to stop the xserver.
In any case log back in and hopefully the boxes are gone.

==Help! Now I Can't Get Into KDE/Gnome etc.==
If you are looking at a black blank screen try pressing the '''Ctrl''' and '''Alt''' and '''F1''' keys together.<br>
You should get a '''login''' prompt. Type '''root''' and press '''Enter'''.<br>
Now type the root password and press Enter again.
Now either edit the file (start with Step 3) or reload the file from the backup.
To restore the file from the backup type the following and press Enter
# cp /etc/X11/xorg.zbackup /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Reload your Xserver as described in Step 8.

[[Category:Desktops]]

Black borders around windows fix (ATI) - Revision history

Eden at 19:47, 8 March 2010